when asked if a middle ground could be found, both boehner and biden showed some wiggle room. >> the top brackets have to go up. it's not a negotiable issue. theoretically we can negotiate how far up. >> reporter: at another local restaurant, the owner has seen enough of washington gridlock. >> i wish those lawmakers would get their [ bleep ] together and get it done and try to help everybody. it would be good if they could do it before the holidays are over. >> reporter: craig, as someone who spent some time in river city here in washington, i wanted to show you this. these are the inaugural stands right on pennsylvania avenue, right in front of the white house. i'm looking at them and listening to them right now. they've been going up pretty steadily. these guys work around the clock. january 21st, the president is going to be marching past the white house to live here for another four years. now, about the fiscal cliff, john boehner's in town. that's relatively rare for him to stay in town on the weekend. the president was here, but there were meetings yesterday. nancy pelosi came